Trucking Accident Procedures: Step-by-Step
Nobody wants to think about being in a truck accident, but knowing exactly what to do when it happens can protect your safety, your CDL, and your livelihood. Whether it is a parking lot scrape or a highway greasy side up rollover, these step-by-step procedures will guide you through the critical first hours. See also our accident reporting guide for FMCSA requirements.
Ahmad Qazi
Founder & CEO, O Trucking LLC
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years guiding drivers through accident procedures and post-incident compliance
Written by Ahmad Qazi, founder of O Trucking LLC, drawing on 9+ years dispatching for owner-operators. Learn more about us.
O TruckingTrucking Accident Procedures: Step-by-Step (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Secure the scene first: four-way flashers, then reflective triangles at 100, 200, and 300 feet behind your truck.
- Call 911 even for minor crashes — a police report is essential for insurance claims and FMCSA records.
- Photograph everything (damage, road conditions, skid marks, signs) before the scene is cleaned up; evidence is perishable.
- Never admit fault or apologize at the scene; stick to the facts and let the report and footage establish liability.
- If the crash meets FMCSA criteria, alcohol testing must be done within 8 hours and drug testing within 32 hours.
- Lock your dashcam recording immediately so loop recording does not overwrite the footage of the accident.
Step 1: Scene Safety — Protect Yourself and Others
Your first priority is safety. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, the scene itself is dangerous — especially on a highway with high-speed traffic.
Turn on four-way flashers — This is the first thing you should do, even before exiting the cab. Make your truck visible to approaching traffic immediately.
Set out warning devices — If you can safely exit the truck, place reflective triangles at 100 feet, 200 feet, and 300 feet behind your vehicle. On a curve or hill, place the farthest triangle at a distance that gives approaching drivers enough time to react.
Do not stand between vehicles — Many secondary fatalities at accident scenes occur when people are struck by passing traffic. Stand off the roadway, behind guardrails, or in the median when possible.
Check for fire or fuel hazards — If you see or smell fuel leaking, if the truck is smoking, or if there is any fire, move away from the vehicle immediately and warn others to do the same. Diesel fuel has a relatively high flash point but can still ignite, especially near hot engine components.
Step 2: Call 911 and Request Emergency Services
Call 911 as soon as the scene is secured. Even if the accident seems minor, having a police report is essential for insurance claims and FMCSA records. Provide clear, concise information:
- Exact location: highway, direction, mile marker, or nearest exit/cross street
- Number and types of vehicles involved (semi-truck, passenger car, etc.)
- Whether anyone is injured and the apparent severity
- Whether lanes are blocked and which ones
- Any hazmat involvement (check your bill of lading)
Step 3: Document Everything with Photos and Notes
Evidence is perishable. Start documenting as soon as it is safe to do so. Use your smartphone camera to capture:
Vehicle damage — Photograph all damage to all vehicles from multiple angles. Include close-ups and wide shots that show the overall scene context.
Road and weather conditions — Wet pavement, ice, potholes, construction zones, faded lane markings — all may be relevant to determining cause.
Skid marks and debris — These show vehicle paths and impact points. Photograph before they are disturbed by traffic or cleanup.
Traffic signs and signals — Speed limit signs, stop signs, yield signs, and traffic signals near the scene.
Take More Photos Than You Think You Need
Step 4: Exchange Information
Exchange the following with all other drivers involved:
Personal: Full name, phone number, driver's license number and state
Insurance: Company name, policy number, claims phone number
Vehicle: Make, model, year, color, license plate number and state
Commercial: CDL number, MC/DOT number, carrier name, USDOT #
Step 5: Notify Your Company and Insurance
Call your dispatcher or carrier safety department as soon as possible. They will coordinate insurance notification, towing, cargo recovery, and load reassignment. For owner-operators, also contact your insurance company directly.
Your carrier's safety department will also determine whether post-accident drug testing is required based on the accident criteria.
Step 6: Preserve Dashcam and ELD Data
Electronic evidence is critical:
Dashcam footage — Lock/save the recording immediately. Remove the SD card if needed to prevent overwrite. Upload to cloud storage if available. This footage may be your best evidence.
ELD data — Your ELD records your driving status, speed, and location data. This information will be reviewed during the investigation. Make sure your logs are accurate — annotate your log with the accident time and details.
GPS and telematics — If your truck has a GPS tracker or telematics system, this data can show speed, braking, and location at the time of the accident. Preserve it.
Post-Accident Drug Testing Deadlines
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Drivers who handle the first hour well still lose claims by making avoidable errors afterward. Watch for these:
- Admitting fault or apologizing — Even a reflexive "I'm sorry" can be treated as an admission of liability. Stick to the facts.
- Leaving the scene too soon — Wait for police and a report unless directed otherwise; leaving can turn a fender-bender into a serious violation.
- Forgetting to annotate your ELD log — Note the accident time and that you were stopped, so your hours of service record matches reality.
- Letting dashcam loop recording overwrite the crash — Lock or remove the SD card before footage is lost.
- Skipping or delaying the police report on a "minor" crash — Hidden injuries and damage often surface days later, and no report makes the claim far harder.
- Posting about the accident on social media — Anything you post can be used by the other side; keep it offline.
Once the scene is cleared, follow up with our accident reporting guide to file the right paperwork on time, and review post-accident drug testing rules so you stay compliant.
Trucking Accident Procedures FAQ
Common questions about what to do after a truck accident
What are the first 3 things to do after a truck accident?
The first three things to do after a truck accident are: (1) Check yourself for injuries and ensure you are safe. (2) Secure the scene by turning on hazard lights and placing warning triangles at 100, 200, and 300 feet behind your vehicle if safe to do so. (3) Call 911 and report the accident with your exact location, number of vehicles involved, and whether anyone is injured. These three steps address immediate safety before moving on to documentation and notification.
Should I move my truck after an accident?
It depends on the situation. If your truck is blocking traffic and creating a secondary accident hazard, and it can be moved safely, most states require you to move it to the shoulder or a safe area. However, if there are serious injuries, the truck cannot be moved safely, or police instruct you not to move it, leave it in place. Before moving anything, photograph the scene and vehicle positions first to preserve evidence of the original accident scene.
What information should I exchange with the other driver?
Exchange the following information: full legal name, driver's license number and state, insurance company name and policy number, license plate number, vehicle make/model/year, phone number, and employer name if applicable. For commercial drivers, also exchange your CDL number, MC/DOT number, and carrier name. Photograph all documents rather than relying on handwritten notes — this ensures accuracy and provides a backup.
How do I preserve dashcam footage after an accident?
Immediately after the accident, press your dashcam's event/lock button if it has one — this prevents the footage from being overwritten. If your dashcam uses a loop recording system, the current file will eventually be overwritten by new footage. Remove the SD card and store it safely, or upload the footage to cloud storage using your phone. Do not give the SD card to anyone at the scene. Your attorney, carrier, and insurance company will need copies.
How long do I have to complete post-accident drug and alcohol testing?
Under FMCSA rules, if the accident meets the criteria for mandatory testing, alcohol testing must be done within 8 hours and controlled-substance (drug) testing within 32 hours. If alcohol testing is not completed within 8 hours, the carrier must stop trying and document why; if drug testing is not completed within 32 hours, the carrier must document why. Do not drink any alcohol until testing is done or the 8-hour window passes, and remember that refusing a required test counts as a positive result.
Should I admit fault or apologize at the accident scene?
No. Do not admit fault, apologize, or speculate about what happened — even a casual 'I'm sorry' can be used as an admission of liability later. Stick to the facts when talking to police: where you were, your speed, what you observed. Let the police report, photos, dashcam, and ELD data establish what occurred. Notify your carrier's safety department and let them and your insurer handle liability determinations.
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